Health-related Support Groups on the Internet: Linking Empirical Findings to Social Support and Computer-mediated Communication Theory

Abstract

This literature review of research on health-related computer-mediated support groups links features of these groups to existing theory from the areas of social support and computer-mediated communication research. The article exams computer-mediated support groups as weak tie networks, focuses on how these support groups facilitate participant similarity and empathic support and identifies changes in supportive communication due to characteristics of the medium.